Anoulack Chanthivong has chided the state government for reannouncing the Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility (AMRF) instead of getting on and building it.
The member for Macquarie Fields, who is also on the Labor opposition frontbench as their industry and trade spokesperson, says it’s time for “more than press releases’’.
Earlier this week the state government with great fanfare said the AMRF would be operation by 2026, which is when the under construction Western Sydney Airport is scheduled to be up and running.
“The reannouncement of the $260 million Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility (AMRF) fund for Western Sydney is welcome, but after two years of inaction, it’s time for more than press releases,’’ says Mr Chanthivong.
His own media release included a link to a government media release on the AMRF from late 2020. The images here were part of that media release.
“The past 10 years have been a lost decade for manufacturing in NSW,’’ he said.
“NSW should be making things right here. Instead this government has offshored well-paying local manufacturing jobs and the skills along with it.’’
Mr Chanthivong warned the government that further delays and empty rhetoric would not be tolerated.
“This tired Liberal Government is all talk and no action.,’’ he said.
“Announcement after re-announcement is this government’s form. This is the third announcement of the AMRF. Stop the spin and start delivering.
“NSW Labor has consistently been calling on the Government to deliver local manufacturing and the AMRF to provide much-needed jobs for Western Sydney and boost the local economy.
“We need to ensure the AMRF is delivered in full and becomes the innovative manufacturing jobs centrepiece it was always intended to be.
“Western Sydney has disproportionately bore the brunt of the pandemic’s economic downturn and yet the Liberal Government is all smoke and mirrors when it comes to supporting jobs growth in the region.
“State of the art facilities such as the AMRF are an important part of the Western Sydney jobs boom, yet the Liberal Government’s lack of action means the facility is still sitting on the tarmac when it could be in full flight,” Mr Chanthivong said.
